The co-morbidity of DSM-V Gambling with DSM-V mental disorders and substance abuse in a Kenyan context of high risk schizophrenia

• Published in: BMC psychiatry Vol. 23; no. 1; p. 239
• Main Authors: Ndetei, David M, Mutiso, Victoria, Momanyi, Reinpeter, Nyamai, Pascalyne, Musyimi, Christine, Mamah, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England BioMed Central Ltd 10-04-2023; BioMed Central; BMC
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Alcohol; Amphetamines; Co-morbidity; College students; Comorbidity; Compulsive gambling; Consent; Cross-Sectional Studies; Data collection; Demographic aspects; Demographics; Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; Drug abuse; Drug use; Economic indicators; Gambling; Gambling - diagnosis; Gambling - epidemiology; Gender; Health aspects; High school students; Humans; Kenya - epidemiology; Kenyan context; Male; Mental disorders; Morbidity; Online gambling; Personality; Population; Psychiatry; Psychological aspects; Psychosis; Regression analysis; Risk factors; Schizophrenia; Schizophrenia - complications; Schizophrenia - diagnosis; Schizophrenia - epidemiology; Secondary schools; Social behavior; Sociodemographics; Substance abuse; Substance use; Substance use disorder; Substance-Related Disorders - complications; Substance-Related Disorders - diagnosis; Substance-Related Disorders - epidemiology; Suicides & suicide attempts; University students; Youth; Kenya; United States > US; Africa; Kenyan context; Substance use; Youth; Gambling; Mental disorders; Co-morbidity
• ISSN: 1471-244X; 1471-244X
• DOI: 10.1186/s12888-023-04738-4

There is evidence that gambling disorder shares similarities with other types of addictive behavior, such as occurs in substance abuse. In addition, co-morbidity of gambling with mental disorders has been established in school-going students.
This study aimed at determining the comorbidity of DSM-V gambling disorder with DSM-V mental disorders and substance abuse in high school, college and university students in Kenya.
This was a cross-sectional study among 536 high school, college and university students. We collected data on socio-demographic characteristics, economic indicators, DSM-V diagnosis including DSM-V gambling disorder and substance use disorders using the WHO ASSIST tool. Descriptive and inferential analyses were done.
A total of 536 students participated in the study, of which 11.4% (61 out of 536) had DSM-V gambling disorder. Male gender (AOR = 12.0, 95% CI: 4.99-34.3), antisocial personality disorder (AOR = 3.42, 95% CI: 1.34-8.54), tobacco use (AOR = 4.42, 95% CI: 1.15-18.3) and conduct disorder (AOR = 7.56, 95% CI: 2.34-25.1) were predictors of gambling disorder.
Gambling is highly prevalent in Kenya learning institutions at 11.4% and is associated with mental disorders and substance use. There is a need for public awareness of gambling among Kenyan youths.